USA

We are convinced that financial conditions-both actual and expected-are key to understanding why the Fed has not delivered in line with its forward guidance since the start of policy normalisation in late 2013. However, at present, consistency between forward guidance and policy delivering seems to be improving. So far in 2017, actual rate increases have been in line with the Fed's forward guidance. Nevertheless, we expect financial conditions to deteriorate sharply in the future, which will contribute to an end of policy tightening in 2018 and to prompt a recession in 2019.

In June, the Fed announced a detailed plan for balance sheet reduction, before it had assessed the amount of securities needed to carry out policy in the future. The amount depends on monetary regime. The choice has not yet been made. The Fed Chair, Yellen, does not believe that the reduction would affect financial conditions much. Yellen's intention is for the reduction to run quietly in the background for years, while monetary policy is operated through adjustments of the Fed funds rate. In our view, Yellen is a little too optimistic.